A NEW exhibition at the University of Chester offers a glimpse into the art world’s most creative minds – including the man behind one of The Rolling Stones’ most distinctive album covers.

Reflective Stories, which takes place in the Contemporary Art Space Chester (CASC) in the university’s Kingsway Buildings, brings together a photographic archive record of sketchbook and journal pages from a wide range of artists, designers and other professions, to reveal how they aid creativity, critical reflection and decision-making.

Among the treasures on display will be the development work of David Crow, who designed the artwork for The Rolling Stones’ live 1991 album, Flashpoint, as well as prolific illustrator Paul Hogarth, best known for his work with Penguin author Graham Greene.

Curator Professor Neil Grant, director of CASC and head of the university’s art and design department, said: “We are fascinated by the way creative people appear to see things in a different way and have ideas that inspire us but baffle us as to how those ideas came into being.

“Artists and designers are frequently asked to reveal their inspiration in the hope that their revelation might in some way enhance our creativity.

“In essence we always want to look ‘under the hood’, curious about the way of thinking and decision-making that breaks out of the expected.”

Reflective Stories opens on April 19 and runs until Friday, May 4. Admission is free and the public is welcome to visit the galley between 10am and 4pm from Monday to Friday.